Spring end mounting means



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SPRING END MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 Z713? f5 Z6 JH N gmc/wwf,

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SPRING END MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING END MOUNTING MEANS Wi1liam,L J ones, Centralia, Ill., assgnor of fiftyone percent to `Grlenn W. Johnson, Centralia,

lll.

Application December 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,673

(Cl. 267-54) v l` Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in ,spring `end Ymounting means for motor vehicles Will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following descriptionof Vthe drawings, which illustrateypreferred embodiments thereof, `and Figure 1 is a side `*elevational view, partly in section of one form of-springmountingparticularly intended for use onheavy-trucks,

Figure v2'is a cross sectional View through a portion of the same taken s ubstantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 2f2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a viewsirnilar to Figure 1 other form of Vspring mounting,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modification of Figure 3,

Figure 5zis an endviewlinelevation looking t0- Ward the `right hand end or edge of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan View of the nut'retaining member,` shown in Figuresfi and,

Figure 'l is a fragmentarysubstantially central sectional View of another form Of spring mountinglfor use on small passenger automobiles,

Figure 8 isv a substantially central sectional -v-iew, partly in elevation of another form of spring mounting for use with a Uetgype of shackle,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 of a modification thereof,

Figure 10 is a `fragmentarysubstantially central sectional View, partly in elevation of a modiiied form of the spring mounting shown in Figure 1,

Figure 1l is an edge view in elevation of a spring mounting of the type-shownin Figure 10, and

Figure 12'is a view-similar Ato Figure 8 of a slightly modified form thereof.

Referring,morelparticularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the `different views, and referring particularly toFigures 1 and 2 .which illustrate a sprinemountina designated generally I5, especially intended for use on heavy of antrucks and the like and including a shackle formed of bars I6 Vhaving openings I1 adjacent the ends thereof. The complementary openings Il are `,adapted `to receive threaded, restricted ends I8'of a pin or bolt I9. On each of the pins I9 is mounted a sleeve type bushing 20. Between the pin and bushing is a plurality of sets of needle bearings 2l to provide anti-friction means for supporting the bushing on the pin. The sets of needle bearings 2| are spaced from each other by vmeans of spacing rings or ribs which can be loosely mounted on the pin or formed integral therewith, as seen at 22. mounted on the bushing 20.

The pin' I9 is provided with'a lubricating passage 24, one end of which opens outwardly of an end I8 and which is provided with a fitting 25, and the opposite end of which opens into'the space between the pin and bushing for lubricat- Aispring eye '23 is ing the bearing-s 2l. The shackle I5 may be providedwitha ring itype dust guard 26, as shown in the lower` left hand corner of Figure l, which .is loosely mounted on the pin I9 and against `the'inner side of one of the bars I5 and which is provided with a flange 2l for engaging over `an `end of thespring eye23. A packing ring 2-8 rof yieldable material, such as felt or cork-is dis,-

posed between the dust guard 26 and -an end of the bushing 20 and an end of one of the outer sets of bearings 2I. In lieu of the dust guard, previously described, the inner side of the bar I6 4can be recessed, as seen at 29, to receive the yieldable packing ring 28, asshown in the lower right `hand corner of Figure 1. threaded ends I3 and bear against the outer sides Nuts 3G engage the of the bars I for holding the shackle l I5 assembled, and a key or cotter pin 3l can be provided The restricted ends i8 form outwardly facing shoulders 32 on the pinIS which bear againstthe inner sides of the bars lli for holding the bars spaced sufficiently lso, as not to bind against the bushing'Z and spring eye 23.

From the foregoing, it will-be obvious that the .spring eye will turn freely with the bushing on the rollers 2| and relatively to thelpn I9 to provide a free acting spring mounting which can be readily lubricated and'which can be sealed to prevent dust and dirt from reaching the interior thereof.

Referring to Figure 3, a `spring mounting, designated generally 33, is herein illustrated, having a shackle formed of bars IB provided with openings Il for receiving the threaded ends I8 of a pin 34, `which differs Yfrom the pin I9 in that `it is provided with an enlarged intermediate portion 35 and slightly restricted portions 36 between the portion 35 and the ends I8 on each of which is mounted a set of needle bearings 2| for turnably supporting a bushing 20 on the pin 34 and on which, in turn, is mounted a spring eye 23. The ends of the portion 35 form shoulders against which the inner ends of the bearings ZI engage. The ring shaped dust guard 26 loosely engages each of the threaded ends I8 and bears against a shoulder 32 formed by the outer end of a portion 36. bears against an end of the spring eye 23 and the dust guards 26 are disposed against the inner sides of the bars I6. A spacing ring 31 is disposed on each of the portions 36 for spacing a set of the bearings 2| from the dust guard 26, adjacent thereto. A packing ring 28 is disposed around each ring 31 and within a iiange 21. The pin 34 is provided with a lubricating passage 24 corresponding to that of the pin I9 and nuts 36 engage the ends I8 for holding the bars I6 applied.

A spring mounting, designated generally 38, as shown in Figure 4, includes an H-shaped shackle 33, the legs 48 of which are providedI with correspondingly disposed openings 4I for receiving conventional bolts 42 which replace the bolts or pins i3 or 34 each of which is provided with a headed and a threaded end for receiving a nut 36 for retaining the bolt 42 in position. A bushing 43 is mounted on each of the bolts 42 and is provided with recessed ends 44 for receiving sets of needle bearings 2l at the outer ends of which are arranged dust guards 26, rings 28 and rings 31, in the-same manner as shown in Figure 3. The spring eye 23 is mounted on each of the bushings 43. The ends of the bushings 43 extend beyond the ends of spring eyes 23 to receive thelanges 21 which engage thereover. A bar or plate 45 is provided with enlarged ends having opemngs shaped and sized to t the nuts 38, as best seen in Figure 6 at 46. The plate 45 is fastened. by means of a screw 41 to the shackle 36 and functions to prevent the nuts 36 from being removed while'the plate 45 is applied, as seen in Figures 4 and 5. It will likewise be readily'obvious that the plate or bar '45 can be use-d as a Wrench for applying or removing the nuts 36 and can be employed on the nuts 38 of the spring mountings I and 33, if desired.

In Figure '7, a part of the spring end mounting, designated generally 48, is'illustrated, which is especially adapted for use on Ford automobiles and which includes a shackle formed of bars 43 having openings 58, adjacent their ends, which are substantially square or polygonal shaped cross section. Mounting 48 includes a pin 5I similar to the pin 34 and having the portions 35 and 36 and the threaded ends I8, corresponding to the pin 34, but which is also provided With portions 52, between the threaded ends `I8 and the portions 36 and which are shaped and sized to fit the openings 58. The portions 36 mount sets of needle bearings 2l, the inner ends of which bear against the ends of the enlarged intermediate portion 35. Cup shaped bushing members 53 have openings for loosely engaging the portions 36 and annular bottom portions 54 whichfare disposed between the outer ends of the bearings 2| and the inner sides of the bars 46. The bushings 53 surround the sets of bearings 2| and support the spring eye 55 thereon. The eye 55 is provided with a lubricating port 56 which communicates with a groove or flat portion 51 in the The ange 21 of each dust guard 26" pin part 35 for conveying a lubricant to the bearings 2|. The pins 5I are provided with nuts 38 and retaining pins 3I for holding the shackle 48 assembled.

In Figures 10 and 11, a spring end mounting 58 is shown which constitutes a slight modication of the spring end mounting I5 and which is provided with a shackle composed of a pair of bars 59, only one of which is shown, having bifurcated ends 66. The bifurcated ends 68 are adapted to receive restricted unthreaded ends 6I of a pin 62 in openings 63 thereof. Except for the fact that the ends 6I are not threaded, the pin 62 corresponds to the pin I9. Each of the pins 62 carry sets of needle bearings 2l, spacing rings or ribs 22, a bushing 64 and a spring eye 23. The bushings 64 dier from the bushings 20 in that they are provided with recessed ends 65 for receiving the flanges 21 of dust guards 26 which are turnably mounted on the ends 6I, between the bars 59 and the shoulders 32 of the pins 62. Pins 62 are also provided with lubrieating passages 24. The bifurcated ends 68 have bolts 66 extending therethrough, adjacent their outer ends, and provided with nuts 61 which can be tightened for clamping the pin ends 6I to the bars 56. The dust guards 26 are also provided with packing rings 28.

In Figure 8, a spring end mounting, designated generally 68, of a different type is shown, and which includes a shackle 69 of the U-type such as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,251,843, issued August 5, 1941. Only one end of the shackle 69 is illustrated, and said end is provided with a pin 18 having an intermediate, enlarged threaded portion 1I and restricted end portions 12. A bushing 13 of the sleeve type is provided with a bore having an intermediate threaded portion 14 for loosely engaging the thread 1l. The outer end of the thread 1I terminates in an annular shoulder 15 forming a seat for a spacing ring 31, mounted on the outer portion 12. The inner end of the thread 14 terminates in a similar shoulder 15 for engaging another ring 31, mounted on the other portion 12. Portions 12 are provided with sets of needle bearings 2l which support the bushing 13 and which are held out of engagement with the threads 1l and 14 by the rings 31. A spring eye 23 is disposed around the bushing 13 which is provided with an enlarged outer end for holding the spring eye in place thereon. The shackle 69, at the inner end of the pin, is provided with a restricted portion 16, larger in diameter than the thread 1I, for seating a dust guard 26, having a packing ring 28 which bears against the inner'end of the bushing 13 and a flange 21 which is disposed around the packing ring. The outer open end of the bore of the bushing 13 is adapted to be closed by a cap or plug 11 which is pressed therein or otherwise attached thereto, and which is provided with a Zerk or other type lubricating tting 18.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that rollers or needle bearings 2l will support the bushing 13 so that it can turn freely on the pin 18 to the limited extent required for operation of the spring of which the eye 23 forms a part.

Figure 9 shows a spring end mounting 19 forming a slight modication of the mounting 68 and having a pin 16 at one end of a shackle 80, the thread 1I of which is inclined in the opposite direction to the thread 1I of the shackle 66. The pin 16 of the shackle 88 has end portions 12 provided with sets of needle bearings 2I for supporting a bushing 8| which diers from bushing The portion of the shackle 80 around the inner end of the pin 18 forms a shoulder 84 against which the inner ends of the bushing and eye engage and which is provided with an annular groove 85 for receiving a packing ring 28. The cap 11 having a fitting 18 is pressed into the outer end of the bushing 8|.

In Figure 12 another modification of the spring mounting of Figure 8 is shown, designated gen- Aerally 86, and comprising a U-type shackle 81 having a pin 88 provided with a threaded portion 1| and end portions 12 in which are mounted sets of needle bearings 2| for supporting a bushing 89, similar to the bushing 13 but not provided With a shoulder 15. Beyond the inner end of the thread 1|, the pin 88 is provided with an annular shoulder 90 forming an abutment for the inner set of bearings 2|. The shoulder 90 has a bevelled side facing toward the thread 1| against which the inner end of the thread of the bushing 89 engages when the spring mounting is moved to the limit of its inward movement.

The outer end of the thread of the bushing 89 is provided with a similar shoulder 98 to be engaged by the outer set of bearings 2| and having a bevelled inner side for engaging the outer end of the thread 1|. 'I'he shackle 81 is provided with a shoulder 84, groove and packing ring 28. 'Ihe outer end of the bushing 89 is provided with a cap or plug 11 and tting 18. The spring eye 23 of the shackle 81 corresponds to spring eye 23 in Figure 8.

Various modifications and changes in the embodiment of the invention, as disclosed, are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, provided they fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claim, as only preferred embodiments thereof have been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

A spring end mounting means including a shackle having spaced bars provided with aligned openings, a pin mounted in said openings, bushing means turnably mounted on the pin and longitudinally immovable relatively thereto, said pin having shoulders for engaging and spacing said bars, means for mounting a spring eye on the bushing against longitudinal movement, and a plurality of roller bearings disposed between the pin and bushing for providing an antifriction bearing support for the bushing and the pin.

WILLIAM L. JONES. 

